A mere two months ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery admonished him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or the reason for the side's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. When the in-form star swept in his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?
This is a rather hard question to address. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, even as the wins have stacked up.
According to Opta, in only two games has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side who have strung together 10 in a row, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – but currently the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge the club will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot keep on drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Could it be a different scenario in which, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.
- The main striker might resume scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he resembled during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.
This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
